A cherished member of the Hanalei community, 37-year-old Sergio "Tito" Reyes, a native of Guatemala, was tragically killed on the night of June 6, 2026. Reyes, the head chef at Federico's Mexican Restaurant, had just finished his shift and called his girlfriend, Leslie Gomez Nunez, to let her know he was closing up and would be home soon. When a significant amount of time passed and he had not returned, she grew worried and drove to the restaurant.
Upon her arrival, she found the lights on, the door open, and Reyes inside, having sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his chest.
The investigation into Reyes' death quickly focused on William "Billy" Sinclair, 51, with whom Reyes and his girlfriend had reportedly been living. The motive for the killing was described by police as an "ongoing financial dispute." Friends of the couple indicated that living with Sinclair had been difficult due to domestic violence, fighting, and drugs in the house. Nunez had expressed that when Reyes informed Sinclair of their intention to move out, Sinclair had told them they were not allowed to leave. The situation had escalated to the point that just days before his death, on June 3rd, Reyes discovered all four of his car's tires had been slashed.
Following the discovery of Reyes' body, a two-day manhunt for Sinclair ensued. He was eventually located near the Kapaʻa Public Library and, after a standoff with police that involved him entering the water, he was taken into custody. Sinclair was subsequently charged with 28 counts, including second-degree murder for the death of Sergio Reyes and second-degree attempted murder of another individual, Shey Ferguson, whom he allegedly shot at just hours after the homicide. The charges also included numerous weapons offenses related to a significant cache of illegal firearms found in his possession. His bail was initially set at $500,000 but was later increased to $1.5 million. The case against William Sinclair is currently moving through the court system, and as of now, there has been no conviction or sentencing. The death of Sergio "Tito" Reyes, a man remembered for his kindness, work ethic, and love for his family and friends, has left the Hanalei community in mourning as they await justice.
